Iran to unveil new submarine in August

Iran will unveil its new indigenously-built â€˜hi-techâ€™ submarine next month, the country's Defence Minister has said.

â€œThe submarine enjoys advanced technology, high power of maneuvering and underwater operations and is equipped with hi-tech weapons,â€ Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said.

The Iranian Navy will launch the new vessel in early August, the minister was quoted as saying by FARS news agency.

The country had started building its first domestic submarine â€˜Ghadirâ€™ in 2005. Designed to remain undetected, and fire missiles and torpedoes simultaneously, the vessel joined Iranâ€™s naval brigade in June 2009 and began operations in November same year.